Embracing Change, Boston Celtics Hire 23-Year-Old Analytics Phenom

New Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens found an unlikely formula for success during his days manning the sidelines at Butler University.

Under his watch, the Bulldogs rattled off a 166-49 record, giving Stevens the best six-year start to a coaching career in NCAA Division I history. Butler made a surprising run to the 2010 title game, then found its way back to the Big Dance a year later.

The analytically inclined Stevens clearly saw something the rest of the college hoops world could not. Ainge hopes he's discovered the ace up Stevens' sleeve:

Stevens was one of the hottest names in the college ranks, but it's unclear just how much that means for the 36-year-old's transition to the pro game. He'll have to manage personalities like never before, giving orders and demanding effort from players making multiples of his coaching salary.

In an effort to ease the long process ahead, Stevens will pore over all of the numbers now at his disposal looking for whatever mathematical edge he can find. Cannon's presence will, if nothing else, give him another set of eyes to examine the data and another mind to draw out the meaning behind those numbers.

Boston's a team in transition with Doc Rivers settled in his new West Coast home and former Celtics mainstays Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett now draped in the black-and-white threads of the Brooklyn Nets.

With Stevens at the helm and Cannon at his side, faces aren't the only things changing in one of the league's most storied franchises.